Cookware lid

Abstract

A cookware lid has upper and lower holes provided on a recessed, sloping surface. The lower end of the recessed surface provides a reservoir to receive and drain liquid The upper holes allow steam and foam to escape a vessel, condense and run down the sloping surface into the reservoir and back into a vessel, avoiding boil over during cooking. The lid may also include a locking mechanism to attach to a vessel so as to further avoid boil over and also permit straining.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cookware lid comprising an upper rim surrounding a recessed portion, the recess portion including a sloped surface wherein at least one set of upper holes are provided at an upper end of the sloped surface and at least one set of lower holes are provided at a lower end of the sloped surface, the sloped surface and rim defining a reservoir configured to receive liquid that runs down the slope surface and drain said liquid through said lower holes.  
     
     
         2 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is disposed below a plane defined by said upper rim.  
     
     
         3 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said upper holes and said lower holes are positioned asymmetrically with respect to the center of the lid.  
     
     
         4 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper holes and the lower holes are positioned on respective, opposing side portions of the surface of the lid, whereby condensed liquid may flow from one side portion to another.  
     
     
         5 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper holes are disposed proximate the rim.  
     
     
         6 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper holes have larger diameters than the lower holes.  
     
     
         7 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of upper holes have a greater total cross-sectional area than the set of lower holes.  
     
     
         8 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one set of side holes disposed at side portions of the sloped surface.  
     
     
         9 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism to secure the lid to a cookware vessel.  
     
     
         10 . The cookware lid according to  claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises indents formed on the periphery of the rim, said indents configured to mate with matching tabs provided on a cookware vessel.  
     
     
         11 . The cookware lid according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper rim is configured to rest on an inner ledge of a cookware vessel, whereby the upper and lower holes are disposed below said ledge.  
     
     
         12 . Cookware comprising: 
 a vessel;    a lid having an upper rim surrounding a recessed portion, the recess portion including a sloped surface wherein at least one set of upper holes are provided at an upper end of the sloped surface and at least one set of lower holes are provided at a lower end of the sloped surface, the sloped surface and rim defining a reservoir configured to receive liquid that runs down the slope surface and drain said liquid through said lower holes; and    a locking mechanism to attach the lid to the vessel.    
     
     
         13 . Cookware according to  claim 12 , wherein the recesses are formed in the rim of the lid, said recesses having sizes that correspond to a corresponding set of tabs provided at the rim of the vessel, and the vessel rim includes an annular lip that forms a recess to receive the edge of the lid.